Golf ball cleaning device



y 1963 v. J. SUNDQUIST 3,098,252

GOLF BALL CLEANING DEVICE Filed May 15, 1962 INVENTOR. Via/or J, 520147 1126 BYWM rraxwr/ United States Patent 3,098,252 GOLF BALL CLEANING DEVICE Victor J. Sundquist, 16850 Stansbury, Detroit, Mich. Filed May 15, 1%2, Ser. No. 194,843 3 Claims. (Cl. 155il6) This invention pertains to golf ball cleaning devices and more particularly to that type of such devices as is portable and readily carried on a golfers person or in his golf bag.

It will be appreciated that during a round of golf there are many occasions for the ball to become stained, roughened, or covered with dirt or other foreign matter, or for the surface of the golf ball to otherwise lose its regular and glossy character. Such stains and the like not only mar the appearance of the ball, thus annoying and distracting the golfer, but can, if not removed, affect the flight or roll of the ball resulting in inaccurate shots and putts.

For instance, a well hit iron shot usually requires the taking of some grass or sod causing the ball to pick up some dirt or to become stained with grass. Then too, even the best players occasionally hit a bush, tree or the like, or shoot the ball into a sand trap or other hazard whereupon the ball will become bark stained, covered with sand, or its surface marred. Many of these occurrences take place on or near the fairway or green, away from the large stationary washers sometimes provided at the tee. Thus the player must either try to remove the foreign matter by rubbing the ball in his hands or on his clothing, bag or the like, or play the ball as it is found with the disadvantages above noted. Of course Where the clothing, bag, etc. are used in an attempt to clean the ball these items are left dirty and unsightly. Moreover, where the hands are used they may become dirty and slippery, thus interfering with the golfers grip on the club.

One object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide an improved portable golf ball cleaning device.

Another object is to provide a golf ball cleaning device which will firmly rub and polish the surface of the ball.

Another object is to provide a portable golf ball cleaning device that will supply a solvent, such as water, to the ball while cleaning the same.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a solvent carrying portable golf ball cleaning device which will release the solvent only during cleaning of the ball, thereby avoiding release thereof at undesired times, such as when the device is being carried in the players clothing or his golf bag.

A further object is to provide a golf ball cleaning device requiring a minimum contact of the players hands with the surface of the dirty ball or with the solvent that may be used to assist in the cleaning operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invent-ion will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a golf ball cleaning device embodying the present invention shown closed for carrying on the golf course.

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section similar to that of FIG. 2 but with the device shown opened and in position to clean a golf ball that has been placed therein.

The preferred embodiment of the golf ball cleaning device 11 of my present invention illustrated in the drawing is generally spherical in shape, see FIG. 1. The device 11 comprises two substantially identical hemispherical halves or cups 13 and 15 (FIG. 2) constructed of a liquid absorbing, porous and elastic material, such as sponge or foam rubber, and having their outer surfaces 16 and 17, respectively, sealed or glazed to prevent the passage of liquid therethrough. Said cups 13 and 15 are provided with substantially identical ball receiving pockets 18 and 19, respectively, the surface of which 21 and 23, respectively, is rough and unglazed so as to permit the absorption of a solvent, such as water, by the cups upon the supplying of the same thereto.

Said pockets 18 and 19 are also hemispherical and are formed slightly smaller in their radius than that of a golf ball to be cleaned, the surfaces 21 and 23 of said pockets being preferably concentric with the glazed outer surfaces 16 and 17 of said cups 13 and 15. Thus, when a golf ball is inserted in the cups 13 and 15 it will compress the elastic material thereof and expand said pockets 13 and 19, as shown at 31 and 32 (FIG. 3). In this manner there is provided intimate resilient gripping contact between the outer surface of a dirty golf ball and the rough surfaces 21 and 23 of the cup pockets 18 and 19.

In order to hold the cups 13 and 15 together in a closed position for ease and convenience in carrying and handling between uses, an annular band 35 (FIG. 2) of plastic or other relatively non-expansible material is mounted on the cup 13 adjacent its rim 37. Said band 35 may be held on the cup 13 by friction whereupon it necessarily must be constructed with a slightly smaller diameter than that of the rim of the cup 13 at its area of contact therewith. However, preferably the band 35 is more positively held on the cup 13 by gluing or heat fusion as shown at 39 (FIG. 2) or by means of protrusions or the like (not shown) on the inner surface of said band 35.

The band 35 is adapted to removably fasten the cup 15 to the cup 13 through the medium of a thickened portion 41 (FIG. 2) thereof, which portion 41 extends outward from the plane of the rim 37 of said cup 13 and radially inward from the peripheral rim portion of said cup 13'. The inner surface 43 of this thickened band portion 41 may be roughened, provided with bumps or otherwise prepared for good frictional or mechanical contact with the peripheral rim portion 45 of the cup 15. When said rim portion 45 is compressed and squeezed within the thickened portion 41 of said band 35 it will be firmly held thereby, thus maintaining said cups 13 and 15 in generally sphere appearing relationship, see FIGS. 1 and 2.

In operation before beginning a round of golf the player opens the cleaning device 11 by putting pressure with his fingers on the cup 15 adjacent its rim portion 45 and firmly, but gently, pulling the two cups 13 and 15 apart by withdrawing said portion 45 from its gripping contact with the inner surface 43 of the band 35. Water or other solvent may then be supplied to the pockets 18 and 19 of said cups, and due to the porous nature of the surfaces 21 and 23 thereof and the liquid absorbing quality of the material of which said cups are made a considerable amount of the solvent will be retained by said cups 113 and 15. Because of the glazed outer surfaces 16 and 17 of said cups, however, this solvent will not pass through said surfaces, thereby keeping the exterior of the cleaning device dry and conserving the solvent contained therein.

The cups 13 and 15 are then again fastened together and the cleaning device closed, as shown in FIG. 2, by reversing the opening operation described above. As previously noted the roughened inner surface 43 of the band 35 will firmly grip the peripheral rim portion 45 of the cup 15. Hence, the two cups 13 and 15 will be fastened together in such a manner as to prevent any escape of the solvent either at their joint or through the exterior surface of said cups. Thus, the cleaning device 11 may be placed in the golfers pocket or his golf bag without fear that the solvent will leak out and wet the same.

When during play the golfer desires to clean his golf ball he merely opens the cleaning device, as above described, and inserts said ball into the pocket of one of said cups 13 or 15. He then places the other cup over the protruding portion of said ball so that it is received in the pocket of said other cup and pushes the cups together in the direction of the arrows A and B (FIG. 3) to firmly seat the ball in said pockets and expand the same so that they resiliently grip the surface of the ball.

The cups 13 and 15 are then turned, twisted or rotated about the ball in the direction of the arrows C and D (FIG. 3) While applying gentle pressure in the direction of the arrows A and B. Thereupon, some solvent will be released from the cups 13 and 15 and will flow over the ball contained therein while the rough surfaces 21 and 23 of the pockets 18 and 19 will rub the dirty surface of the ball and with the assistance of the solvent remove all foreign matter therefrom leaving it clean and bright.

The cups 13 and 15 may then be removed from around the ball which is now clean and again ready for play. Said cups are then fastened together again and the device returned to the place where it is carried until needed again. The players golf ball may thus be cleaned time and time again in the course of around of golf, the solvent supply held -in the porous material of the cups 13 and 15 being suificient for many cleanings.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A portable golf ball cleaning device comprising two elastic cups, each having a pocket shaped to be expanded by a golf ball received therein, whereby upon placement of a golf ball in said pockets and twisting of said cups relative to each other the surface of said golf ball is rubbed by the surfaces of said pockets to remove foreign matter from the ball and clean the same, and fastening means on the peripheral rim of one of said cups for encircling the peripheral rim of the other of said cups when a ball is not in cleaning position, said fastening means, cups and the pockets therein being constructed and proportioned so that during cleaning of said golf ball said fastening means does not encircle the peripheral rim of said other cup.

2. A portable golf ball cleaning device comprising two hemispherically-shaped porous, elastic cups, each cup having a hemispherical golf ball receiving pocket therein of slightly smaller radius than that of a golf ball and having a glazed liquid impervious outer surface, and a relatively non-expansible band secured to one of said cups adjacent its rim, said band having a portion extending outward from the plane of said one cups rim and radially inward therefrom to receive, compress and frictionally grip the rim portion of said other cup to maintain said cups in sphere appearing relationship when a ball is not in cleaning position.

3. A portable golf ball cleaning device comprising two porous, elastic cups, each cup having a hemispherical golf ball receiving pocket therein of slightly smaller radius than that of a golf ball, and means mounted on one of said cups having a surface arranged to compress and frictionally grip the exterior peripheral rim surface portion of said other cup whereby said cups may be removably fastened together, and to provide a liquid tight contact with said peripheral rim portion of said other cup to prevent the escape of liquid therebetween when a ball is not in cleaning position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 96,654 Andrews Nov. 9, 1869 1,382,615 Bate June 28, 1921 1,565,414 Byrne Dec. 15, 1925 2,572,349 Kaplan Oct. 23, 1951 2,840,842 Kaheny July 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,260 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1894 

1. A PORTABLE GOLF BALL CLEANING DEVICE COMPRISING TWO ELASTIC CUPS, EACH HAVING A POCKET SHAPED TO BE EXPANDED BY A GOLF BALL RECEIVED THEREIN, WHEREBY UPON PLACEMENT OF A GOLF BALL IN SAID POCKETS AND TWISTING OF SAID CUPS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER THE SURFACE OF SAID GOLF BALL IS RUBBED BY THE SURFACES OF SAID POCKETS TO REMOVE FOREIGN MATTER FROM THE BALL AND CLEAN THE SAME, AND FASTENING MEANS ON THE PERIPHERAL RIM OF ONE OF SAID CUPS FOR ENCIRCLING THE PERIPHERAL RIM OF THE OTHER OF SAID CUPS WHEN A BALL IS NOT IN CLEANING POSITION, SAID FASTENING MEANS, CUPS AND THE POCKETS THEREIN BEING CONSTRUCTED AND PROPORTIONED SO THAT DURING CLEANING OF SAID GOLF BALL SAID FASTENING MEANS DOES NOT ENCIRCLE THE PERIPHERAL RIM OF SAID OTHER CUP. 